Is it too soon to give up on Gaming? A Grade 1 winner and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Gaming fell off the Derby radar when he disappointed in two subsequent starts. After finishing a distant third in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, Gaming broke poorly and finished eighth in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park. He needed a freshening. “I was disappointed his last two outs, so I just backed off a little bit,” trainer Bob Baffert said. Good move. Gaming is coming back around. He worked a quick five furlongs in 59.40 on Feb. 21 at Santa Anita and may get another chance to join the Derby trail in an unspecified stakes. “He might get another shot at it. I don’t know where it’s going to be, but I was happy with his work,” Baffert said. “We know he’s a good horse. I just need to get him back. I’m trying to figure him out.” Gaming got hot in the Southwest post parade, acted up in the gate, did not break well, and ran into early traffic which forced jockey Juan Hernandez to hit the brakes. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more “After that, that was it for him,” Baffert said. “When he’s down inside, he gets confused.” Gaming has won two of five, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. He was an Eclipse finalist as outstanding male juvenile. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.